Tuesday, May 21st 2024
Microsoft Has Lost its Mind—$450 for a Keyboard, AI Button Included
During yesterday's Microsoft Event, in addition to the new AI features and Surface devices, the company also announced its new Surface Pro Flex wireless keyboard, compatible with the Surface Pro 8, 9, 10, and 11 models. Officially called "Surface Pro Flex Keyboard with Slim Pen," the wireless keyboard is a $449.98 add-on keyboard that doesn't include Microsoft's Surface Slim Pen 2, only an indentation at the top of the keyboard to charge it. So, without a pen, what does the keyboard offer? According to Microsoft, up to 41 hours of continuous typing while detached, a dedicated Copilot key, and a touchpad with a vibration function for haptic feedback. The touchpad can have varying pressure levels, and applications can use it to build different functionalities.
Its thin and light design measures 289x221x5.25 mm with a weight of 340 g. The dedicated Copilot key summons the AI assistant and all the functionality Microsoft plans for its Windows 11 integration, which has been completely revamped for AI. The material choice is a Alcantara polyester-blend, which can be difficult for maintenance, and the keyboard is sold in either black or bright sapphire colors, becoming available on June 18th. Interestingly, given the name "Surface Pro Flex Keyboard with Slim Pen" and a price tag of $449.98, it is intriguing as to why Microsoft doesn't bundle the Surface Slim Pen 2 with the keyboard, as it is designed with a dedicated wireless charging indentation for the pen.
Source:
Microsoft
Its thin and light design measures 289x221x5.25 mm with a weight of 340 g. The dedicated Copilot key summons the AI assistant and all the functionality Microsoft plans for its Windows 11 integration, which has been completely revamped for AI. The material choice is a Alcantara polyester-blend, which can be difficult for maintenance, and the keyboard is sold in either black or bright sapphire colors, becoming available on June 18th. Interestingly, given the name "Surface Pro Flex Keyboard with Slim Pen" and a price tag of $449.98, it is intriguing as to why Microsoft doesn't bundle the Surface Slim Pen 2 with the keyboard, as it is designed with a dedicated wireless charging indentation for the pen.
73 Comments on Microsoft Has Lost its Mind—$450 for a Keyboard, AI Button Included
But FYI, you CAN buy the stickers separately, for ONLY $99 each, heeheeheee :)But...
But....
Didn't that bacon have the AI-Generated smokey-sweet flavor, hahahahahaha ?
I went into a WF store last year for the 1st (and last) time.... after about 30 seconds, I was literally ready to barf up my breakfast due to the outrageous prices....that's why most of their stores are located in upscale neighborhoods....and for good reason, the folks who live there are the only ones who could possibly afford to shop there !
[I][SIZE=4]Microsoft Has Lost its Mind—$450 for a Keyboard, AI Button Included[/SIZE][/I]
Anwser from MS :"AI made us do it !"
It can be disabled, but boy does it look like a vulnerability ready to be exploited!
On the news themselves: Seeing how apple has learnt from their 999 usd blunder of a stand (for the most part), maybe it's time for microsoft to learn. God I hope they actually have to learn.
I bet someone will put that on their resume.
Why spend billions in AI chips, datacenters, cooling and electricity when they can make the users pay for everything.
And if you think the results will be private because the processing is local: think again. They'll tell you that to keep a seamless operation between your devices you'll need an MS account and internet access and they'll end with your data anyway but cheaper because they didn't have to pay the hardware/electricity costs.
TBH it's a very smart move from MS. Most likely within 5 years every laptop will include an NPU and because we are how we are PCs will have to follow the trend at some point not much later.
honestly I prefer just using chatgpt official website, not sure why Apple, Google, and Microsoft want to spend billions on their own AI, won't matter to me, i will continue to use official chatgpt website and/or app.
Nah, still got a Lenovo Thinkpad chiclet keyboard here, one functional and another spare new in box :p (Look them up... if you can get past the shitty FN/Ctrl swap on the left, this is awesome kb... I do everything on it. Tactile, responsive, smaller than a TKL, and nigh indestructible!)
One thing's dead certain, I'm NOT paying a single cent for anything AI and will recommend my vicinity to do the same. Man what a shitshow
And good riddance too, MS is great at software, when they do hardware its like the school that starts selling sex toys: out of place. Just don't. It also keeps the market healthy. If MS would dominate on hardware and software they'd have a grasp on us nobody would allow.